Connecticut town hall meet favors not-for-profit health care
DERBY, Conn. -- In search of a solution to the health care crisis, several hundred people jammed into the Griffin Hospital auditorium Saturday for a town hall meeting with Sen. Chris Dodd, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Obama health director Nancy-Ann DeParle. The meeting was called as legislation in Congress is on a fast track, with the issue of a public choice at the center of the debate, and the sentiment was strong for a public health care system.
Climate bill moves ahead in House
With a bipartisan vote, the House Energy Committee this week passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which would encourage investment in renewable energy and penalize big polluters in a landmark effort to reverse the effects of global warming.
Texas voters support Climate Change bill, survey shows
WCVI Calls for Congressmen Green and Gonzalez to Vote for Landmark Climate Change Bill SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) recently completed a flash poll of registered voters in Texas Congressional Districts 20 and 29 and the preliminary findings imply strong support for the landmark Climate Change bill, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA).
Congress approves legislation regulating credit card industry
On Tuesday, May 19, the U.S. Senate voted, 90-5, in favor of a bill that would apply new restrictions to the credit card industry, making the terms of their contracts more comprehensible to customers, and limiting predatory lending practices. For example, the measure would prohibit interest-rate hikes on existing balances, unless the card holder was 60 days overdue on payment.
Who's approving those wiretaps on your phone?
With all the hot debate over government wiretapping in recent years, it was surprising to see that few in the media reported on big changes this week at the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court -- the group of federal judges that authorize electronic eavesdropping and physical searches of suspected terrorists, including U.S. citizens.
Civil rights group urges hate crime charge for murder of Mexican immigrant
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has launched a petition calling for the Department of Justice to file federal hate crime charges against the teenagers responsible for the brutal murder of Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah, Pa.
Kris Allen takes American Idol title
Kris Allen's smooth vocals and boy-next-door image propelled him to 'American Idol' victory Wednesday, turning the theatrical powerhouse Adam Lambert into the most unlikely of also-rans.
Marx taken seriously, at last!
DALLAS — In its Sunday, May 17, edition, the Dallas Morning News ran a full-page color spread extolling Karl Marx for his economic abilities. A careful reading of the article by Canadian political economist Leo Pavitch shows that, probably for the first time ever, there are no caveats nor reservations. In the past, Marx might have been acknowledged, but whatever good might have been said of him was always buried beneath a landslide of condemnations!
Gun foes blast vote to allow firearms in national parks
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, today blasted the gun lobby for “hijacking” the credit card reform bill by sneaking in an amendment to permit gun owners to carry loaded firearms, including AK-47 assault weapons, in the national parks.
Montana mayor says his town will take 100 Gitmo prisoners
Dick Cheney is slamming the Obama administration for its plan to close the notorious Guantanamo military prison. Cheney claimed this week that he didn’t “know a single congressional district in this country that is going to say, gee, great, they’re sending us 20 Al Qaida terrorists.” But Ron Adams, mayor of Hardin, Mont., told the World that his town is requesting that 100 Gitmo detainees be sent there, where they could be held in the empty local prison and then get “fair trials like everyone is entitled to.”
